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The STRATFORD CO., Publishers 
Boston, Mass. 







DICKEL AND THE PENGUIN 




To my mother and the little heroine 
who were my inspiration 



VDICKEL 

^ and 
^ the 

' PenouiN 




by 

Elsa Koenig Nitzsche 


The Stratford Company 

Publishers 

Boston, Massachusetts 
1924 






































































.3 

' 131 


Dickel and the Penguin 


Part I. 


Oh! children dear, you’ll think it queer, 
’Till this story you have read 
That a little maid should be afraid 
Of a penguin and a piece of bread. 


Here is the maid, who was afraid 
All smiling and happy and gay. 

She always laughed whate’er you said 
For she was her mother’s sunshine ray. 


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OCT 27 *24 


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Dickel, they called her, though ’twas not her name, 
For she was rosy and chubby and fat. 

She loved all animals just the same 
Whether bunny, dog, or pussy-cat. 


She knew the birdies when they fly, 
She knew them on their nest, 
Skipping or hopping, or in the sky, 
Sparrows, robins, and the rest. 









Even the geese with their soldierly gait, 

The ducks as they waddle along, 

But never, Oh! never, a bird like a mate 
Had she seen walking, head up and so strong! 


One day she was thinking and thinking so hard, 
What could possibly be in the next door yard? 
The wall was so high and she was so small, 
She had never been able to get a peep at all. 





Now suddenly she saw the open gate, 

So surely it was meant to be her fate 

That this time she should know the secrets all 

That lay hidden behind that magic wall. 

So, “Farewell,” said Dickel, to her own dear house, 

And silently and cautiously, just like a mouse, 

Tiptoed along without a thought of what they would say 
When they found that their dear Dickel had gone away. 














One step more, and then she would see 
What yet lay hidden behind the tree. 
Good gracious! For heaven’s sake! 
What was this? ’twas not a drake? 


Oh! no. Was it a man without any legs? 

With a white shirt and arms that were mere pegs 

Again no, for see his strange flat head 

With that queer bill he could never go to bed. 











It must be a hobgoblin, so thought Dickel. 

Oh! how my curiosity has put me in a pickle. 
He surely will hurt me for running away 
And forgetting quite what mother would say. 


So she called for help, which fortunately was near. 
A kind voice said, “My child, have no fear. 

’Tis only a penguin, a bird just the same 
As a gull or a lark, but with a longer name. 






It comes from a far off icy shore 

Where it swims and dives with many more. 

When I was young, I sailed the sea, 

And brought it home as a pet with me.” 

Said Dickel, “Thank you, sir, for being so kind. 
I’ll not he afraid, and I’ll see if I can find 
A penguin when next I go to the Zoo, 

Then I’ll have one friend more, won’t you?” 


Dickel’s Dream 


Part II. 


That night when Dickel went to bed 
She wondered how penguins were fed. 

With sleepy head pillowed on her arm 

She soon was off in dreamland’s wondrous charm. 


“Oh, dear, whose party is it anyway? 

I surely must have heard mother say, 

When she tied my sash and brushed my hair 
And made me sit forever in my chair? 


It can’t be Jane’s, for I have already been 
And for Jack, this package is much too thin. 
One doesn’t give handkerchiefs to boys, 

For them one must have great big toys. 










There is Helen, but her birthday’s in June, 
And for Wilhelma’s it is much too soon. 
The house looks so very strange 
There is parlor furniture by the range. 


How shall I go in, there are no steps at all, 
If I should try to jump, I’ll be sure to fall. 
The walls are so shiny, they look like ice, 
Why so they are!—now is not that nice? 


In summer how cool it must be 

I think I’ll tell father to see 

If he could rent a cottage like that, 

’Twould be much nicer than last year’s flat. 

But whose party is it to be?” 

Dickel contemplated. “Come in with me.” 
And there stood the penguin proud 
Who bade her enter, in a voice so loud. 








“You said in the garden, that I was your friend, 
So I ventured an invitation to send, 

To come to my party to-day 
For it is the first day of May.” 


He touched her hand, she began to rise 
Up to the door, just as a bird flies. 

He made a low bow and said, “You go before 
While I go last and close the door.” 


The door was so low, she had to creep; 

It was made so, bad men out to keep. 
When she crawled through into the room, 
There at a table, sat a bride and groom. 


“Friends, allow me Dickel to introduce; 

A dear little maid, who now is not afraid, 
And whose apologies are most profuse 
For having cried when she first me spied. 






Pray, have a seat, 
There is no meat, 

But in this dish 
You’ll find some fish.” 


Dickel made a curtsy deep, 

Then raised the lid to take a peep. 

“Why, the fish is raw! and there is a lobster claw! 

I can’t eat food like that,” thought Dickel, as down she 
sat. 


“We read your thought,” the penguin said, 

“And are sorry we have neither butter nor bread. 

But one thing we have in this icy place 

That will make smiles appear all over your face. 

Now what is it every good little girl loves, 

It comes in bricks, cones, and even shaped like doves. 

It is solid when you get it, but don’t let it stand. 

Now guess this riddle, and you’ll have what’s in my hand.” 


















“I love riddles, and I know the answer to this. 
I would be surprised if I should miss. 

The way it begins is: I-C-E 

There is just one word the rest can be.” 


“You know and I know, so let’s the guessing stop; 

And you will have a great big plate with a nut on top.” 

Dickel was happy, as happy could be 

For she had never had such a plate as you can see. 

She ate and ate, but the lump grew no smaller. 

In fact it seemed as though it were ever so much taller. 
She began to shiver and then to shake, 

But on the size seemed no impression to make. 











Baby penguin wanted to tease 

But mama said: “None of that if you please.” 

So it turned its little head away 

And with its shiny fish resumed to play. 


“Please pardon me, for you may think me silly 
But all this ice-cream makes me very chilly. 

PH never say again, I’ve not ice-cream enough 
For to eat so much is mighty tough.” 


As Dickel woke up, and rubbed her big eyes 
Mother was kissing her in great surprise 
For the first thing she heard her daughter say 
Was: “Thanks, no more ice-cream for me to-day.” 


“The other side of the garden wall.” 

The day after the dream. 

Dear Dickel, 

What an interesting dream you had! Strange and curious as it seems, it is hardly 
stranger than the true story of the penguin. Shall I tell it to you? Then you will not 
have to go to bed wondering how penguins are fed. 

There are several cousin penguins. For instance the King, the Emperor and the 
Johnny penguins. Can t you imagine the difference between them? The Kings and the 
Emperors, taller and statelier, as kings should always be; the Johnnies good natured and 
roly-poly? Now Johnny Penguin is their real name, and not a make believe name like 
Peter Rabbit or “Billy Bunny.” Then there are the Adelie Penguins, which are not 
good natured at all, always fighting and scrapping. 

But the unusual thing about them is that all the Kings live together in one place, all 
the cross snappy ones in another and the good natured ones in a third. Isn’t that a splen¬ 
did arrangement? Where would you like to live, with the cross or the good natured 
ones? I think, Dickel would be right at home with the Johnnies. 

The Kings do not have to fight to show who is the strongest, all being equal. They 
salute each other in the most dignified way whenever they meet by lowering their beaks 
on their breasts, remaining in this position while talking together. Then, compliments 
having been exchanged, they raise their heads and make a great circle with their beaks 
and go peacefully on their way. 

If you could swim across a stream or your big sister Helma could swim across a 
lake you would think it far, but the penguins swim hundreds of miles and when and 
where they rest during the winter nobody knows, for they only appear on land in 
November which is the beginning of spring in the land where they live, as their home is 
in the Antarctic ocean. They must have been swimming most all winter, yet they come 
on shore as fresh and as spry as though they had just been in for a morning’s dip instead 
of ending a weary journey. 

You would naturally think they had come that long distance to be in a beautiful 
country with trees and flowers and nice soft moss and ferns to make a nest with; but no 
such thing. They have come to a barren shore where at best they can find some coarse dry 
grass. But they like it and are perfectly at home, setting about their business at once. 
Now what do you think that business is? Nothing less important than building a home 
where they will keep house for four months. 

The penguin has one dreadful enemy, the sea-leopard, who would follow him on 
shore. Once I cut open a sea-leopard which I had shot, and found four penguins in his 


stomach. So when Johnny or Adelie go a-housekeeping they travel far inland, in spite 
of the fact that this is very hard for them. Their legs are so short and their bodies so 
heavy, that they can only take small steps. There are no good roads on which to travel. 
They must go over rocks and snow, but as they travel back and forth from their nests to 
catch fish, they are careful to go on the same path, so that by and by they have made nice 
trails for themselves. 

My penguin, the one you saw in the garden, is a Johnny. His name is Courageous 
Johnny,” and I will tell you how he came by that name and how I happen to have him. 

THE STORY OF COURAGEOUS JOHNNY 

On a lovely spring morning for that region, but cold for ours (it is always cold 
there as you c$n easily imagine when there is snow in summer) the penguins began 
coming ashore. They came by the thousands, but had hardly arrived when they trooped 
far inland. Here they formed into cities called “rookeries.” Thousands in one rookery. 
As I was watching them busily engaged in their various pursuits, I noticed one especially 
fine looking penguin. He looked for all the world like a young man prinking before 
going out to call on his best girl. His shirt front was white and shiny, his black coat had 
not a ruffled feather and he held his head erect as though sure of success. He strode right 
over to a demure maiden who seemed to be waiting; but just as he was about to make his 
bow to her, another Johnny, somewhat fatter and larger, but not nearly so elegant look¬ 
ing, jostled him aside and made his bow. What was poor Demure Penguin to do? She 
had been so pleased to see our penguin coming towards her (for this was none other 
than Courageous Johnny), yet now he was completely hidden by the intruder and she 
could not even catch his eye. So she did nothing, which was the wisest thing she 
could do. 

At this Courageous tapped his rival on the shoulder and jerked his head as much as 
to say: “Will you kindly get out of my way, Sir?” However, instead of stepping aside, 
he thrust out his beak and slapped Courageous over the head. Courageous stood erect, 
even straighter than before. The blows were repeated again and again, but Courageous 
never moved; he was too proud to fight before his lady fair. She in the mean time 
edged quietly around the fighting penguin until she stood close by Courageous. Her 
choice had been made and the angry penguin walked away with his head down as 
though he were ashamed. 

They lost no time now that they were sure of each other in starting right in to build 
their home. They collected all the round stones they could find. This was not easy, as 
there were not many left uncovered by the snow and so many penguins to want them. 


They worked side by side, always loving each other. At last their house was 
finished and two nice eggs almost round were in it. Courageous did not make his wife 
do all the sitting on the eggs, for it is not an easy task in so cold a climate. The eggs 
must be held on the feet close to the body, as the ground is too cold to be allowed to 
touch the eggs. They also must be turned every day so that the different sides come in 
contact with the warm body. If the day was unusually warm the snow around them 
melted and they had a hard time keeping the eggs dry as their nest was directly on the 
ground. 

Every twenty four hours, Courageous took his turn so that Demure could stretch 
her legs and warm up by going back to the sea to take a swim and catch fish. Of course 
she was not allowed to go alone, as this was too dangerous. A whole party of neighbors 
would form a band and trudge Indian fashion to the sea. 

For thirty days they took turn about. Then, one evening, when Courageous came 
back, his wife waved to him from afar: "Hurry up! Hurry up!” He leaned forward 
and used his arms as well as his legs so he could go faster; for as I said they can’t walk 
fast. 

What did he see when he came to the house? Not two eggs but two bundles of 
down. He let out a shout of delight. These two bundles soon became fine birds, grow¬ 
ing very rapidly. It was not long before they were almost as tall as their parents, bui 
still they were helpless. You can imagine it kept the mother and father busy catching 
enough fish for themselves and their big children. You must remember they had so far 
to go for their food. They could no longer just take turn about or they would have 
starved. 

So the neighbors again helped each other out. Every day a certain number were 
left at home to act as nurses for all the children of the neighborhood. The rest would 
march off in bands to the sea, keeping close together all the time so that they could warn 
each other if the sea-leopard came in sight. They ate all the fish they caught, the shrimp 
they kept in a kind of pocket in their throats. 

You should have heard the noise and excitement when they came home! The little 
ones could hardly wait. Some even tried to get out of the nests, but these usually came 
to grief and those who waited patiently in their nests, had the first turn to put their 
heads down their parents’ throats and get out the shrimp. It almost looked as though 
they were being swallowed by their parents, the heads went down so far. For three 
months they were fed this way, every day growing stronger and stronger until finally 
they were able to go to the sea themselves. 


~ When after many tumbles they reached a sandy beach, you should have seen them 
playing in the sand and learning to swim, just like the children at Atlantic City. One 
family after another disappeared in the water to find some retired rock where they could 
go to change to winter clothes as summer was at an end. 

They could not step into a store and say: “Please give me a warm suit of clothes 
for myself and one for my child. Be sure to give me a large size for he is very big for 
his age.” They had to wait until Dame Nature made a suit to order, and she was not a 
bit in a hurry about it either, taking a whole month to finish it, not even allowing them 
to go off and fish while waiting. But when it was finished it was a perfect fit, and kept 
the cold and the water out to a “T.” 

I did not tell you that one of Courageous’ children was not strong. He was not 
able to go with the others. It happened there were a number not able to do so. Coura¬ 
geous volunteered to stay and take care of them all. He even urged Demure to go as he 
was afraid she would take cold. What care he did take! It is surprising how they picked 
up when there was no longer the bustle and excitement of the crowd. 

In fact it was not long before he said: “Tomorrow we can be off. We will not go 
inland to sleep, so that you will not be tired by walking before we start.” He hid them 
behind some rocks and stood guard himself. Suddenly a big sea-leopard reared his head 
out of the water. What could poor lone Courageous do but stand and fight, for he could 
not leave the children and they were too sleepy to remember what to do. He pecked at 
the monster and hit him with his arms until poor Courageous fell exhausted. The sea- 
leopard went right over him not even bothering to eat him, for he smelled the young 
tender penguins behind the rocks. 

I had heard the disturbance, so came out of my tent and was only in time to aim at 
the leopard but not to hit him. He had made quick work and was disappearing into 
the sea. 

I picked up the heroic penguin and nursed him back to life. He grew so tame 
during this time and seemed so grateful and attached to me, that I took him with me 
when I sailed away. He had earned his name “Courageous Johnny.” 

Dear me! What a long letter I have written! but when I once get started about my 
“Courageous,” there is no telling when I will stop. But at least you will no longer have 
to wonder how penguins live. 


Lovingly your friend, 


“The man who sailed the seas.” 

























































































